Closed thoracic cavity lavage in the treatment of severe hypothermia in human beings.
Life-threatening hypothermia can be treated by active and passive rewarming techniques, the treatment of choice being partial cardiopulmonary bypass. The use of closed thoracic cavity lavage has been evaluated in animals, but no formal presentations in human beings have been reported. We report two cases in which rapid rewarming in severe hypothermia was accomplished when cardiopulmonary bypass was not available.
Hall
K N
KN
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Ohio.
Syverud
S A
SA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods; D013909:Thorax